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Evaluation of a static mixer as a new microfluidic method for liposome formulation
Aoba Ota1, Ayaka Mochizuki1, Keitaro Sou2
1Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|September 7, 2023
Summary
Static mixers (SM) offer a user-friendly and effective alternative for liposome formulation, demonstrating good control over particle size distribution. While slightly lower encapsulation efficiency was observed compared to microfluidic devices, SMs show promise for practical liposome production.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Traditional batch methods for liposome formulation face challenges in scalability and precise control of experimental conditions.
- Microfluidic devices offer potential improvements but a universally adopted, practical method remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of static mixers (SM) as a microfluidic alternative for liposome formulation.
- To compare SM performance against a staggered herringbone micromixer (SHM) in terms of key formulation parameters.
Main Methods:
- Liposomes were formulated using both static mixers (SM) and staggered herringbone micromixers (SHM).
- Key parameters assessed included encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, lamellarity, particle size, and polydispersity index (PDI).
- User-friendliness and ease of cleaning were also evaluated.
Main Results:
- Increased initial lipid concentration led to larger particle sizes in both SM and SHM, with SM producing larger overall sizes.
- Static mixers (SM) exhibited significantly smaller PDI, indicating superior control over particle size distribution.
- Encapsulation efficiency was slightly lower in SM but increased with lipid concentration, though less than theoretical values due to increased lamellarity.
Conclusions:
- Static mixers (SM) provide significant advantages in user-friendliness, particularly regarding device cleaning and preparation for experiments.
- SMs can produce uniformly distributed liposomes and present a practical alternative to existing methods.
- Further modifications to SM mixing elements could enhance their potential for advanced liposome formulation.
